Collapsible carriage.



C. S. SPOFFORD. OOLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, 1910.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

3110a 14 to r,

NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO, WASHINGTON, D. C.

G. 8. SPOPFORD. GOLLAPSIBLB CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED 001:. 4, 1910.

L179" Patented Feb.9,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witness x1 M M 52 HE NORRIS PETERS co, PHOTQLITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C.

j pnrrnn erarne ra rnnrr CHRISTOPHER STEELE SPOFFORD, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO STURYGIS 'EIJJEEL GO-CAET COMPANY, OF S'IURGIS, MICHIGAN.

GOLLATBSIBLE CARRIAGE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER STEELE SPoFFoRD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Sturgis, county of St. Joseph, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Carriages, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in collapsible carriages.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide in a collapsible carriage, an improved means for locking the'parts in their erected position and releasing or unlocking the same, which may be conveniently operated in the erecting or collapsing of the carriage. Second, to provide in a collapsible carriage, means for automatically locking the same in its collapsed position.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure, which is a preferred embodiment of my invention, is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a side elevation of a structure embodying the features of my invention, a portion of the handle being broken away, the wheels on one side being omitted. Fig. II is a detail rear elevation of the structure appearing in Fig. I, the wheels being omitted. Fig. III is a detail vertical sec tion taken on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. II, looking in the direction of the little arrows, showing details of the locking and bracing means. Fig. IV is a side elevation of the structure in the collapsed position, the wheels and parts of the wheel supports being broken away. Fig. V'

is a diagrammatic view illustrating the automatic lock for the collapsed carriage.

In the drawing, similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 1

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the running gear frame, which is, in the structure illustrated, formed of tubing bent into U-shape. The handle 2 is pivotally secured to therear end of the frame by pivots 3. On

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented net. e, rare;

Application filed October 4, 1910. Serial No. 585,245.

each of the side bars of the running gear frame are clip-like hangers 4: for the wheel supports 5. These wheel supports have downwardly-projecting arms 6 terminating in spindles 7 for the wheels 8.

A pair of levers 9 are mounted on the side bars by means of the pivots 10, the lower ends of the levers projecting below the side bars to engage the cam members 11 on the wheel supports. As the levers are actuated,

the wheel supports are actuated to collapse or erect the same. The levers are preferably connected by the side bars 12 of the seat to the handle 2, so that, when the handle is swung forward on the frame, or raised therefrom, the wheel supports are actuated. These parts are preferably arranged to serve as a lock for the collapsed carriage as will be described in detail later.

The cam members 11 are not shown in detail, as they form no part of this invention. The wheel supports are braced and the levers locked in their erected position, thereby locking the carriage in its erected position by means of the brace members 13, which are pivoted on the running-gear frame at 14, the upper ends of the braces being extended rearwardly beyond the pivots.

The links 15 are pivoted to the levers 9 at 16, and to the braces 13 at 17. On the wheel supports are forked clips 18, with which the braces 13 engage when the parts are in their erected position. The lower ends of the levers are preferably connected by the cross piece 19, which adds to the rigidity and also serves as a foot piece for forcing the braces into engagement with the clips.

The forward ends of the wheel supports are provided with braces 20, which are pivoted on the running-gear frame at 21 and connected by the links 22 to the levers, the pivots 23 for connecting the links 22 being disposed on the levers at a point below their pivotal connection to the running gear frame. The links 22 are connected to the upper ends of the braces 20 by the pivots 21.

The bracing and locking means for the rear wheels described, is substantially that shown in the patent to Loshbough, No. 948,070, dated Feb. 1, 1910.

To provide a convenient and effective means for releasing the locking means and the braces, I provide a lever 24, preferably pivoted on one of the braces, as at 25, its

v disengaged by the operator.

To provide a means for automatically locking the carriage in its collapsed position without the necessity of providing additional mechanism, I arrange the pivots?) for the handle to the frame, the pivots 14 .for the links 12 to the handle, and the pivots 14 forthe links to the levers 9, so that when the handle is fully collapsed the pivots 1 L swingpast a plane through the pivots 8 and 14. I thus secure a locking toggle which not only locks the handle in its collapsed position, but also looks the carriage as a whole in its collapsed position.

The seat structure illustrated forms the subject matter of an application filed concurrently herewith and is, therefore not illustrated or described in detail herein. The foot rest shown forms no part of this invention and I do not, therefore, illustrate or. describe it in detail herein.

I have illustrated and described my improvements'in detail'in the form in which I have embodied them in practice, and which form I find'to be highly satisfactory. Iam aware, however, that it is capable of very great variations in structural details, without departing from my invention, and I desire to be understood as claiming the same specifically, as illustrated, as well as broadly within the scope of the appended claims. v

Having'thus described my invention, what I claim asnew'and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In a folding carriage, the combination with the runninggear frame, of wheel supports pivotally secured to said frame; levers pivoted to said frame and connected to said wheel supports for collapsing or erecting the same; a pair of braces for said wheel supports pivoted'onsaid frame; connecting links 'for said braces to said levers, the connecting pivots'for said links to said braces being adapted to swing past the center of the pivots for the braces; rearwardlv-facing forked clips on said wheel supports, adapted -to receive said braces, said braces being provided with a cross piece adapted for a foot piece for forcing said braces into engagement with said clips; and a release lever pivotally mounted on one of said braces, withoneend :adaptedto-engage its connecting link whereby, when saidlever is actuated, said link is swung upwardly.

2. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running-gear frame, of pivotally mounted wheel supports; means for actuating said wheel supports comprising levers; a pair of pivoted braces for said wheel supports; connecting links for said braces tosaid levers, the connecting pivots for said links to said braces being adapted to swing past the center of the pivots for the braces, said braces and links coacting to provide a locking toggle for said levers; rearwardlyfacing clips on said wheel supports, adapted to receivesaid braces, said braces beingprovided with a cross piece adapted for a foot piece for forcing said braces into engagement with said clips; and a release lever pivotally mounted on one of said braces, with one end adapted to engage its connecting link whereby, when said lever is actuated, said link is swung upwardly to break the toggle and said braces are disengaged from said wheel supports.

3. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running-gear frame, of wheel supports pivotally secured to said frame; means for collapsing and erecting said wheel supports comprising levers pivoted to said frame and connected to said wheel supports; a pivoted brace for said Wheel supports when in their erected position; a link connection for said brace to said levers, said link being adapted to swing past the center of the brace pivot, whereby the parts are locked in their erected position when the brace is in engagement with said wheel supports; and a release lever pivotally mounted on said brace, with one end adapted toengage said link, whereby, when said lever is actuated, said link and brace are swung upwardly.

4. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running-gear frame, of wheels; collapsible wheel supports; means for actuating said wheel supports for erecting or collapsing the same on the erecting or collapsing of the carriage; a locking togglefor said wheel support; actuating means, one member of said toggle being arranged to serve as a brace for said wheel supports whenthe carriage is in itserected position,

said toggle being arrangedto be locked by the foot ofthe operator; and a foot actuated release lever for breaking said toggle and disengaging said brace.

5. In a folding carriage,the combination with the running-gear frame, of wheels; collapsible wheel supports; means for actuating said wheel supports for erecting or -coll lapsing the same on'the erecting orcollapsing of the carriage; a locking toggle for said wheel support; actuatingmeans, onemember of said toggle being arranged to serve asa brace for said wheel'supports whenthe:car- 3 riage is in its erected position; and a lever for breaking said toggle.

6. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running gear frame, of collapsible wheel supports; means for erecting said Wheel supports; a locking toggle for said means, one member of said toggle being arranged to serve as a brace for said wheel supports when erected; and a lever for breaking said toggle.

7. In a folding carriage, the combination With the running gear frame; collapsible wheel supports; a handle pivotally mounted on said frame; means for actuating said wheel supports, comprising levers pivotally mounted on said frame; and links pivotally connected to said levers and to said handle, the pivots for said links to said handle being disposed so that they swing past a plane through the pivots connecting said handle to said running gear frame and said links to said levers, to provide a toggle for locking the carriage in its collapsed position.

8. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running gear frame of collapsible wheel supports; a handle pivotally mounted on said frame; means for actuating said wheel supports comprising levers pivotally mounted on said frame; and links pivotally connected to said levers and to said handle, the several pivots being disposed to permit the handle being collapsed forwardly on said frame, the pivots for said links to said handle when said handle is collapsed, being below a plane through the pivots connecting said handle to said running gear frame and said links to said levers whereby a locking toggle of which said handle is a member, is provided.

9. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running gear frame; collapsible Wheel supports; a handle pivotally mounted 011 said frame; means for actuating said wheel supports comprising levers pivotally mounted on said frame; and links pivotally connected to said levers and to said handle, the several pivots being disposed to permit the handle being collapsed forwardly on the frame, and so that said handle swings past the pivots connecting said links to said levers and the pivots connecting said links to said handle are carried past a plane through the pivots connecting said handle to said running gear frame and said links to said levers when the handle is collapsed.

10. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running gear frame, of collapsible wheel supports; a handle pivotally mounted on said running gear frame to fold forwardly thereon; wheel support actuating levers pivotally mounted on said running gear frame, and links connecting said actuating levers to said handle whereby said wheel supports are actuated on the collapsing of said handle, the pivots for said links to said handle and wheel actuating levers, being disposed so that the pivots for the links to the handle swing past a plane through the handle pivots and the pivots connecting said links to said levers When the handle is collapsed to provide a toggle for the carriage in its collapsed position.

11. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running gear frame; collapsible wheel supports; a handle pivotally mounted on said frame; means for actuating said wheel supports comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said frame; and a link pivotally connected to said lever and to said handle, the pivot for said link to said handle being disposed so that it swings past a plane through the pivot connecting the handle to said running gear frame and the pivot connecting said link to said lever to provide a toggle for locking the carriage in its collapsed position.

12. In a folding carriage, the combination with the running gear frame of collapsible wheel supports; a handle pivotally mounted on said frame; means for actuating said wheel supports comprising a'member pivotally mounted on said frame; and a link connected to said member and to said handle, the several pivots being disposed to permit the handle being collapsed forwardly on the frame and so that when collapsed it swings past the pivot connecting said link to said member pivoted on said frame and the pivot connecting said link to said handle is carried past a plane through the pivot connecting said handle to said running gear and the pivot connecting said link to said pivoted member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER STEELE SPOFFORD.

Witnesses:

F. L. BURDIOK, A. B. TENNENT.

Copies of this patent may bembtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

